On Sept. 29, 2022, Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Hardee, Hillsborough, Lee, Manatee, Pinellas and Sarasota County were included in a Major Disaster Declaration.

On Sept. 30, 2022, Orange, Osceola, Polk and Seminole counties and the Seminole Tribe of Florida were added.

On Oct. 1, 2022, Flagler, Putnam, St. Johns, and Volusia counties were added.

On Oct. 4, 2022, Highlands and Lake counties were added.

On Oct. 8, 2022, Palm Beach County was added.

On Oct. 12, 2022, Brevard, Hendry, Monroe and Okeechobee were added.

On Oct. 15, 2022, Glades and Pasco were added.

SAFETY NET BENEFITS

A range of public benefits programs may become available to those impacted by Hurricane Ian. Below are updates on programs that have been activated for survivors of Hurricane Ian

FEMA Individual Assistance

If you live in one of the counties listed above and you are un- or under-insured for necessary expenses and serious needs, you may be eligible for FEMA benefits. FEMA awards benefits on a household basis, make sure only one person applies per address. You have until January 12th (60 days from the date of the disaster declaration plus any extensions granted) to apply for assistance for Hurricane Ian and February 13th for Hurricane Nicole.

Available Benefits May Include:

You can apply in the following ways:

DISASTER UNEMPLOYMENT (DUA)

Did you lose your job, or was your work or self-employment interrupted because of the hurricane? If so, you may be eligible for extra income through Disaster Unemployment Assistance. Apply by December 30, 2022 at the link below, in person at a local CareerSource Career Center, or by calling 1-800-385-3920 (Mon – Fri, 8am - 8pm, Sat. 9am - 4pm, and Sunday 9am - 2pm).

Disaster Unemployment Assistance provides a broader safety net to those not other eligible for regular Reemployment Assistance benefits. If you don’t qualify for regular benefits and you meet one of the criteria below, you may be eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance.

You either:

  • are unemployed as a direct result of Hurricane Ian;

  • were scheduled to start a new job but were unable to as a direct result of Hurricane Ian;

  • are unable to reach your job or self-employment location because you have to travel through an affected area and Hurricane Ian prevented this;

  • have become the primary breadwinner because the head of the household died as a direct result Hurricane Ian; or

  • are unable to work because of an injury that was a direct result of Hurricane Ian.

You must file for regular state Reemployment Assistance benefits before filing for DUA. During the application, you must indicate if you have been impacted by Hurricane Ian. If you don’t qualify for regular state benefits, you will automatically be prompted to file a DUA application.

DUA covers unemployment periods from September 25, 2022 until April 1, 2023­­­­­­­­­­­­, as long as your unemployment continues to be a direct result of the disaster. 

Have your Social Security number, check stubs, and documentation to support your claim that they were working or self-employed when the disaster occurred, or evidence substantiating you were unable to begin employment or self-employment due to the disaster. In some cases, additional documentation may be required. To receive DUA benefits, all required documentation must be submitted within 21 days from the date the DUA application is filed.

For DUA claims information, call 1-833-FL-APPLY (1-833-352-7759) to speak with a representative.

If you are having trouble completing the application online or getting through the phone, don't give up! Individuals who have tried to apply for disaster unemployment in the past have faced—a disaster! The Florida application process has glitches that can cause individuals to be rejected—including many who qualify for aid. 

Once you are able to successfully apply, you’ll typically get a decision within 30 days. If you are improperly denied you’ll have 60 days to appeal. A lawyer may be able to help you appeal.

SNAP (Food STAMP) Benefits

D-SNAP
Updated October 23, 2022

Disaster Food Assistance (D-SNAP) is now open and available to impacted individuals, regardless of their immigration status.

To qualify for D-SNAP benefits:

  • You must NOT be receiving regular SNAP benefits

  • You must have been living or working in a disaster-declared county at the time of Hurricane Ian

  • You must have suffered a disaster-related lost such as:

    • Damage to their home(s) or self-employment property

    • Loss of food

    • Reduction or loss of income

    • Other disaster-related expenses

  • You must meet financial eligibility requirements

Pre-register online at the link above. After online pre-registration is complete, you must complete a phone interview by calling the D-SNAP Call Center on the designated date listed below; or attend an on-site event at a later date.

WHEN TO APPLY

PHASE ONE

Counties: Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Hardee, Lee, Sarasota, and Polk

Pre-Registration Dates: Monday, Oct. 10 - Sunday, Oct. 16

Telephonic Dates: Thursday, Oct. 13 – Sunday, Oct. 16

PHASE TWO

Counties: Flagler, Highlands, Manatee, Orange, Pinellas, and St. Johns

Pre-Registration Dates: Monday, Oct. 17 – Sunday, Oct. 23

Telephonic Dates: Thursday, Oct. 20 – Sunday, Oct. 23

PHASE THREE

Counties: Hillsborough, Lake, Osceola, Putnam, Seminole, and Volusia

Pre-Registration Dates: Monday, Oct. 24 – Sunday, Oct. 30

Telephonic Dates: Thursday, Oct. 27 – Sunday, Oct. 30

Read more about how D-SNAP can help survivors at Florida Policy Institute’s blog.

Current SNAP Recipients

Updated October 23, 2022

For existing SNAP recipients, Florida’s application to provide maximum benefits to families was approved for Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Flagler, Hardee, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lee, Manatee, Orange, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole and Volusia counties. Benefits will be automatically applied to EBT cards starting this week. There is no need to apply for these benefits.

For SNAP recipients in St. Johns County, households can apply for maximum benefits on-line during their county’s D-SNAP period from Thursday, October 20 – Sunday, October 23 by using the following link:

Lake and Osceola Counties may begin requests at the link above starting Thursday, October 27 – Sunday, October 30

There is no need to come to an on-site DSNAP event, benefits will be automatically applied to EBT cards after applications are processed.

Updated October 3, 2022

Replacement benefits (70% of your monthly amount) will be automatically added to your account on Oct. 3 if you:

  • are a current SNAP recipient,

  • normally receive your benefits between the 15th-31st of the month,

  • did not receive early release benefits on 9/27, and

  • reside in Charlotte, Collier, Desoto, Flagler, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lee, Manatee, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Saint Johns, Sarasota, Seminole, or Volusia counties.

Florida recipients will soon be able to use their benefits to purchase hot meals. More updates on when this will be available are expected soon.

If you did not receive replacement benefits or lost more food due to spoilage from the storm than is covered by replacement benefits, you may be eligible for further assistance. If must live in Charlotte, Collier, Desoto, Lake, Lee, Osceola, Sarasota, and St. Johns counties and apply using use this form by Oct. 17, 2022.

Updated September 27, 2022

SNAP Benefit Update: If you were scheduled to receive benefits between October 1st through October 14th, your benefits are now being uploaded to your EBT card.

The Department of Children and Families is releasing food assistance benefits earlier than scheduled to Floridians that may be impacted by Hurricane Ian. This is an early release of regular benefits, not a distribution of additional funds. There is no need to apply for the early release; eligible recipients will have the benefits automatically added to their EBT card. Check back here for additional updates.

If you were scheduled to receive benefits between October 1st through October 14th, your benefits are now being uploaded to your EBT card. If you are scheduled to receive your benefits between October 15th through October 28th, they will be issued at the regular scheduled time.

More information is available from DCF at this link.

Learn more about SNAP benefits after a disaster at Florida Policy Institute’s blog.

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS

PRICE GOUGING

Florida activated the Price Gouging Hotline, 1-866-9NO-SCAM (966-7226). You can also download the free NO SCAM app from the attorney general’s office. Price Gouging protections include renting of any dwelling unit.

renters & MANUFACTURED HOME OWNERS FAQ

Content below was prepared for Hurricane Irma and provided courtesy of Legal Services of Greater Miami. Spanish & Haitian Creole translations provided by Coquí Language Collective. To apply for legal help online in Miami-Dade, visit legalservicesmiami.org and click “Get Help” or call 305-576-0080.

The apartment I live in needs repairs after the hurricane.  What should I do? First, contact your landlord to notify her about the repairs that are needed.  Take photos and videos of damage so you can document what happened. If repairs cannot be made quickly or the landlord refuses to make repairs, you should send the landlord a letter which lists what needs to be fixed and tells the landlord that you will not pay the next month’s rent if the landlord doesn’t make repairs within 7 days.  This demand must be in writing. You can’t do it during a phone call.  You can mail a letter, send an email or send a text. Make sure you keep a copy of whatever you send.

What if the landlord does not make repairs? If you gave written notice to your landlord described in question one, do not pay your rent to the landlord.  But, you must save your rent.  If you sent the written notice, you will have a defense to an eviction for non-payment of rent.  You will be required to deposit the rent with the court if the landlord files an eviction.  If you don’t save your rent, you will likely be evicted and you won’t get a hearing or speak to a judge.

Can I make the repairs myself and deduct it from the rent? No (unless you are a resident of Miami-Dade County).  Florida renters can only do this if your landlord agrees to it, either in the lease or in a separate agreement.  If your landlord tells you can use the rent to pay for repairs, make sure you get the agreement it in writing.  An email or text from the landlord confirming the agreement will protect you later.  

Residents of Miami-Dade County may make certain, necessary repairs on their own and deducts the cost from their rental payment only if they follow very specific steps:

(i) The landlord must have failed to maintain something that is required under section 83.51, Florida Statutes, or chapter 17, article II of the Code;
(ii) You must provide notice to the landlord about their failure to maintain the property and your intention to withhold rent at least 7 days before rent is due; and
(iii) If your landlord fails to make the repairs required under law after the 7 days notice lapses, your right to repair and deduct is protected by the Miami-Dade Tenant’s Bill of Rights. You must have evidence of the repairs you made, including, but not limited to, receipts, before and after photographs of the area of the dwelling unit that was repaired, and other similar documentation.

My place is unlivable after the hurricane.  What can I do? If you have somewhere else to go, you can tell the landlord that the place is unlivable and you are moving out.  Do this in writing and take photos. You won’t be responsible for any more rent under the lease.  If only part of your home is unlivable, you have the right to move everything out of that part of your home and reduce your rent for that part of the home.

I have no power.  Do I have to pay rent? Yes.  In most cases, the loss of power after a hurricane requires FPL to fix lines and restore power. If you think the landlord caused the power outage or there are structural issues at the building preventing power from being restored, you should consult with a lawyer.  

I couldn’t work during the storm and didn’t get paid.  I don’t have the money for next month’s rent. What should I do? First, you should talk to your landlord and see if she’d be willing to work with you and give you time to catch up on your rent.  If not, you should contact your local rental assistance program to see if you qualify (in Miami-Dade County check this link for open programs). Unfortunately, the loss of income caused by a hurricane, is not a defense to an eviction for non-payment of rent. If you have received any eviction papers, you should contact Legal Services for advice.

All my stuff was destroyed when the roof fell in on the place I rent - what help can I get? If you don’t have renter’s insurance and you aren’t covered by your landlord’s insurance policy, you may be able to get Individual and Household Program (IHP) money from FEMA to replace necessary items of personal property such as clothing, household items, furnishings and appliances.

My landlord told me to move out the next day because he wants the apartment for his daughter who lost her house in the hurricane, and told me if I wasn’t out, he’d change the locks - do I have to move? Florida law does not allow a landlord to lock you out or turn off the utilities or use any “self help” to get you to leave. The landlord must file an eviction action in court and, then you only have to move out after the judge orders you to be evicted by the Sheriff.  Before filing an eviction, the landlord must first give you some type of written notice telling you to move. If you get any eviction papers, you can should contact Legal Services for advice. If the landlord locks you out or tries to force you out, call the police and contact Legal Services. You may have a claim for damages equal to three times the monthly rent or actual and consequential damages.

GRASSROOTS EFFORTS

INFORMATION & ADVOCACY BY IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES

The Florida Immigrant Hotline is open and available to answer questions in English, Spanish & Haitian Kreyòl: 1-888-600-5762.

Access to shelter during a natural disaster is a fundamental human right, and preparation and evacuation should never lead to detention or deportation. If you experience any barriers to accessing shelters based on your immigration status, please report it to the hotline.

The hotline is open all year for non-hurricane related issues.

 
 

COMMUNITY DEMANDS

After previous storms, impacted communities made demands for an equitable recovery. Here is what they prioritized:

Miami is the most unequal place in the United States. Our neighborhoods were underwater long before hurricanes make landfall. Unequal conditions before a storm all but guarantee an unequal recovery, but it doesn’t have to be this way. We can and should recover in a way that responds to the unnatural disasters that put our communities in a constant state of emergency.

This is a call for a recovery that serves ALL Floridians. We need:

  • Lights, Food and Water

  • Equity in Relief and Recovery

  • A Moratorium on Evictions

  • A Moratorium on Deportations & Detainers

  • A Moratorium on Firings

  • and a Say in our Futures